The most happy couple in the whole Austen valley

I'd have to agree about Emma and Knightly. They do know each other.

It works, but I don't think Darcy and Lizzy will have too terrible a time of it. She's a classy girl. And he loves her very much.

The Bingley's because they will always want to make each other happy.

The Bingleys are so goody-good, they will always look at the bright side of events, good or bad and probably live their whole lives with a constant smile on their faces. As for Darcy, looks like his love for Lizzy goes beyond the consuming of new found passion. He took whatever time he needed and went for it with opened eyes. As for Lizzy she has soul, wit and brains more than enough to fill her new role as Mistress of Pemberley. She brings freshness and livelyness and a new perspective on life to this vast house which Darcy particularly needs. Their relationship looks like it is most equal of most couples in JA's novel. Pray tell what are your thoughts of Catherine Morland and Mr. Tilney?

Friendliest Couple: Emma and George Quietest Couple: Fanny and Edmund Most Laughs Couple: Catherine and Henry Most Content Couple: Anne and Frederick Most Staid Couple: Elinor and Edward Best Sex Couple: Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam

]Best Sex Couple: Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam ROTFLOL, Cheryl your the best

Johanne, I think you're right. Darcy went in eyes wide open, sure of his choice (and I think he pretty much could have had any choice) and Lizzie is loved and full of confidence. Can you imagine Darcy watching her learn about his life and he learning from her take on it? I think it would be a great marriage - not without controversy, but they have done that before.

What a boring marriage if there's no (healthty/sound) controversy, and with their sometimes playful/feiry nature some very pleasurable moments would certainly derived HHuuummmmmmm!

You are so right, Johanne!It's the differences of opinion that keep a marriage going!If Lizzy and Darcy were to be unhappy, it would be because of things out of their control- lack of children,acts of God,and the like.I can see one of them being torn apart by the unhappiness of the other....

Let's not forget the couples that have good marriages - Adm. and Mrs. Croft and even the Gardiners.

Tough question, all seem perfect for each other but each has a very different realationship. I can't imagine any breaking up. I think The Wentworth's They balance each other the best. All of these couples have a great love for each other but Anne & Fredrick seem to be connected in a deeper way. Call it soul mates or kindred spirits, I think they will be completely devoted to one another.

I agree with Cheryl's definitions, but I think overall the Darcy-Lizzie marriage will be the best--most fun, deepest feelings, etc. I see Anne-Frederick Wentworth as happy and adventurous as the Crofts unless there are children--could she have children on board a man-'o-war?? Emma-George will be friendly, but I see the age difference as keeping them a little as student to teacher. Elinor-Edward Ferrars rather dull and staid; Marianne-Brandon, probably content. Can't decide about Katherine-Henry - it's been too long since I read N.A. Will reread it one of these days, when I have time.

I have been reading JA since I was a teen - I have read every novel over and over to the point of memorization. I can tell you with infinite authority that ALL of JA's heroines had HAPPY marriages. This subject is bordering on the heresy. For what do JA's people live except to convince me that total happiness is the reward for total correctness!!??!! Austentaciously Yours, Katy

I can see Henry Tilney becoming very frustrated with Catherine from time to time. She's no fool, but she is still very young.

]]Best Sex Couple: Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam ROTFLOL, Cheryl your the best Yes, Johanne and Cheryl, quite true! (The problem I find is to write about them and turn the heat down once they're on their honeymoon! I've erased several versions already as being too passionate but with a pair like Firth and Ehl in memory, it's hard to remain in neutral gear...)

Ah Wendy, the smallest sign in which direction to turn our imagination in motion will do the trick, I'm sure

Cheryl as usual you have me chuckling with glee. As far as couples my list is a virtual duplicate of Inko's (Lizzy/Darcy first with Anne/Fredrick a close second and everyone else).

Most definitely, Lizzy and Darcy are to be the happiest together. Their affection has already been put to the test in a major way, and they not only survived that, but came out of it all the more secure in it. His feelings for her had gone beyond the all-consuming passion for her when he put the Lydia/Wickham thing to rights - he has thinking of HER happiness at a great sacrifice to himself. I think they can have confidence that whatever else they may face, they are each willing and capable of reason and compromise. It is possible that Darcy may very well have moments when he recalls prior 'reservations' in the match, but Elizabeth has an understanding of and doesn't blame him for many of them regarding her family. So I don't not see this as causing any great friction between them. (Personally, I think he has gotten over himself, though.) Both Darcy and Elizabeth have clearly valued growt , and I think this would continue to be true. Marriage is a tough gig. These two of all Austen's couples can approach is in honesty and hope.

Marriage is a tough gig.But would you not liefer to be overturned by your huband than driven safely by someone else?:-}(does anyone have a graphic for Austenjokes? )

re:graphic for Austen jokes I suppose the emoticon would be a wan wry smile. I don't know if we have one like that.

I see I'm outnumbered by all the E & D fans, but have to make one last point. Emma and No-No-I-can't-call-him-George Mr. Knightley have known each other all their lives and their friends and family are all the same. I think that makes for a pretty happy arrangement. And can you imagine Darcy agreeing to Lizzie's father actually living with them? And for those of you who think Emma would tire of the teacher/student bent to their relationship, all I can think of is their wedding night, and all the interesting things Mr. Knightley could teach Emma which have nothing to do with the improvement of her character! Hubba Hubba indeed! And as a more serious aside, one of the reasons Emma told herself she didn't want Mr. Knightley to marry anyone because it would mean that her nephew would then not inherit Donwell, doesn't it follow that a son of Emma's and Mr. K's would also disinherit their nephew?

Susan, you are rivaling the Dagimeister tonight!

] one of the reasons Emma told herself she didn't want Mr. Knightley to marry anyone because it would mean that her nephew would then not inherit Donwell, but she was lying to herself; that wasn't the reason at all...

"all the interesting things Mr. Knightley could teach Emma which have nothing to do with the improvement of her character! Hubba Hubba indeed!" [crooked smile] --- Of course, Anna is right...anyway, The Knightleys would have TWO houses to play with...Donwell could go to the nephew, and Hartfield could go to their own son...or whatever...

Kali -- yes, and Isabella actually has as much claim on Hartfield as Emma does...

I'm kind of troubled by the 16 year age different between Emma and Mr. K. I do think their relationship will be almost Higgins and Eliza-ish. I cast my vote for Happiest to Lizzy and Mr. D.! They've come through the fire together; he has actively sought to change himself for her; she too has come to an important self-realization about her prejudices & family which I think will eliminate friction between them in the future. I think Lizzy is perfectly equal to the task of being a charming mistress of Pe berley. And I think that Darcy's severity and serious mien will lessen under her improvement!

'..he has actively sought to change himself for her..' I know we have all been saying this, but I am growing increasingly dissatisfied with this word - 'change'. This implies too much that innately, he was some different person before. But he wasn't, really. He was just totally tuned-out to how his manner was being percieved. There was a very defined social structure of which he was very conscious, his parents taught him to be selfish and overbearing, and he probably believed his manner to merely be consistent with any man of his heritage an fortune. He never imagined anyone thought him a bad guy - arrogant, conceited, insensible to the feelings of others. Ouch! Elizabeth was the first one with the ovaries and the honesty to tell it like it is. (And this, my friends, is the foundation, of the trust and deep affection that will grow in their relationship to make them the happiest couple in Austen Valley.) He was totally blown away! But it awakened him to the view of himself that he just didn't see before. He was not arrogant, conceited, or insensitive to the feeling of others (so, he didn't suffer fools gladly, but we can't hold that against him) or the realization would not have been so 'exceedingly painful'. He would not have then reflected on his previous behavior with such 'abhorance'. It is these feeling that clue us in to who and what he really is. He made some mistakes, so did Elizabeth, so do we.

Bravo Sharon! My views exactly as you will see if and when I ever finish my Young Fitz story!!;-)

Amy2, Mr. Knightley was a young 37! Besides, in ancient Greece, you had middle-aged men marrying teenagers! At least Emma is of modern drinking age...;)

True, Sharon, and I hadn't looked at it quite that way before, but, amy2, those 16 years of experience that Mr. Knightley has intrigue me exceedingly...and I can't help thinking that all those reservations Darcy had cannot simply disappear.It is human nature to become complacent once we get what we want. You know, marry in haste; repent at leisure. But I bow under the weight of you all; I don't think my views are likely to be adopted!

'.It is human nature to become complacent once we get what we want.' Sure, Sue, perhaps if we are allowed to be. Even if Darcy were one not to learn from his mistakes, I just don't think Lizzy would cut him too much slack.

Kali, I'm 37, and I don't feel that young. A sixteen-year age difference is pretty severe. As far as Darcy always being the same person -- yes! This is exactly Janet Aylmer's view in her superb DARCY'S STORY. Sharon, you MUST get your hands on this book! We talk a great deal in screenwriting about a character's "arc" -- how they must go from Point A to radically new Point B and have at least three revelations, one self-revelation, blah blah. Know it sounds formulaic, and it is, but I guess you could say that Darcy's "arc" changes radically.

Amy, I am interested in hearing what the other two "arcs" are.

OK, Sharon. Actually, there is usually one "arc" per character. Darcy's arc is: He goes from a proud, distant man who would disdain someone like Elizabeth to someone who actively courts her good opinion & love. The "revelations" refer to story points where the character realizes something key and the "throughline" (the story, basically) takes a subtle turn. Elizabeth's revelation points are easier to plot since she's the protagonist. Darcy is so reticent that some of his occur non-verbally, and some, off-screen (as when he decides to ask Lizzy to marry him).

This notion of an arc -- I can't get a visual out of my head: Lizzy, say, starting on the ground in one place and popping up and over in a rainbow sized arc -- not flying, but upright, Mary Poppins style or in the manner of a game piece being moved.

With a parasol and baggage, Amy?

Hmmm, in Lizzy's case? With a dagger she drops down to the ground halfway there, and an eyemask or blinders similarly cast away.

popping up and over in a rainbow sized arc -- not flying, but upright, Mary Poppins style // And when she is landed near that pond... (what if she had fallen into it and Darcy just arrived on his white horse and had to rescue her and all of their clothes were wet and...)... no... landed near that pond, her knees would be week and her heart beating as she saw the movement in the buttercups as if somebody was approaching...she would forget about her umbrella like captain Wentworth and Darcy's rainbow arc would end at that same spot and that is where the treasure is, so we are told in fairyta es.Arc-treasure-arc.

Ann2, you are so cute. Glad you can always seem to tune in to my nonsense.

Ann2 is quite a lot of fun!

I am aware this is not chat, but must just say Amy and Kali you are my precious darlings!

Hey! What about me Ann? I think you're cute too! ;-)

Cheryl! That goes without mentioning...of course you're a sweetie ;-)

Yes, Sharon! This is what I was trying to say about the fencing scene; he was struggling to overcome the behaviors that made him appear 'arrogant, conceited, or insensitive to the feeling of others'. It was in his nature to strive to be the best, and it had been revealed to him that his manners did not give him the best first impression on people. Lizzy put it the best to Mr. Wickham when she said 'I believe that he did not change in essentials; merely that one's opinion of him improves upon better acq aintance'...(paraphrasing here). It is telling that even here, where she has no doubt that they will have no future history, she has to make her improved opinion of him known. (Although the urge to 'stick it' to Wickham certainly incited some of this response.)

Awww...much love! :)

Is this a private love-in, or can anybody join in?

This is big, but I love this picture of Lizzie in wedding garb:

Becks, that is really beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.

Tom and Nicole looks to be quite the couple themselves.. one always seems to be caught gazing into the other's eye. Should have had Firth also on the cover, intent and gazing love-struct at her.

"The most happy couple in the whole Austen (Austin?) valley" would seem to be any pair (or more) of P&P addicts who can continue to share their insights on a loved author and film without becoming paranoid about which BB they're posting on, alternately perhaps, until one ceases to be viable. However, the problem remains that if Amy , HC, and the other original conference hosts have in fact decamped from this site, then it would seem Terry will have to alter the header data to reflect his own new job here as host and affix a non-Amy new title/header to this conference as well, since she is now using her header at another location for her group and followers.

Would any volunteer like to step forward and become interim host of this conference? Amy is always welcome here and I hope she changes her mind and comes back. I really miss her energy here. I think it would be fun to expand this into a literary site and create conferences around other giants of the arts and literature.